Stringed mttsicaj



Patented Mar. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES ozm wA'rsoN, or. DALLAS, TEXAS srnmonn MUSICAL insrnunrmvr Application filed November 2, 1929, Serial No. 404,361. Renewed August 10, 1931.

This invention relates to the class of musical instruments, more particularly stringed instruments.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a stringed instrument having a plurality of faces over each of which a group of strings is drawn, each group being tuned to a different key so that instead of the player having to readjust the tension of the strings to obtain the desired key it is only necessary to turn the body of the instrument to bring into playing position the group of strings tuned to the key desired.

The invention broadly contemplates the provision of an elongated rectangular hollow body in each of the four walls of which is formed a circular opening over which the strings of the instrument pass. Each face of the body has extending longitudinally thereof four strings which are held in a suitable rack or frame at one end and are connected to tightening keys at the other end so that the tension of the strings may be regulated as desired. With the four sets of strings adjusted or tensioned to sound in different keys four different keys may be played without changing the adjustment of the strings as is the usual practice with other stringed instruments.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the instrument embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal section of the instrument.

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view taken 011 the line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference in- 7 through intermediate its ends I b V V square cross-sectional contour.

One of the four side walls has formed there 1 a sound opening 5 which opening is preferably circular as shown.

Upon the end wall 3 preferably at the central part thereof there is secured a handle 6 and along each of the four edges of this wall there is secured a plate 7 which is provided with four string receiving slots '8. At each end of the instrument each of the four walls 2 has arranged transversely thereof a bridge piece 9 over which extends the strings 10 each of which has one end knotted and engaged ina slot 8 of an adjacent plate 7.

:The wall 3' is, as shown, relatively thick and it has: formed therethrough along each of the four sides four string key receiving openings 11 in each ofwhich openings is fitted a key 12 which comprises a shank 13 which positions in the opening and a head 14. That portion of the shank 13 which en-' gages'in an opening 11 is grooved or otherwise suitably roughened so that it will be held against rotation when turned to tighten up a string attached thereto- Between the grooved or roughened part-0f the shank and the'head eachkey has an opening 15 therethrough'in which an end of a string is engaged so that it will not slip from position when the stringis woundthereon.

From-the foregoing it will beseen that the strings upon each of the four sides of the instrument are drawn taught between the bridge'pieces 9 by turning the keys 12, the

loosening of the keys being prevented after the keys have been tightened to the. proper degree by. the frictional engagement of the roughened shanks 'thereof with the walls of the groovesin which they are located.

' In order-toassist the user in proper manipulation of theinstrument each of the four wallsmay be marked to indicate the key to whichthe strings are tuned as for example the strings extending over the wall having the opening 5 therethrough may be tuned to G, the other strings being tuned to C, D and F.

While the keys 12 may, of course, be formed of wood I prefer to form them of metal as longer life will be obtained from the instrument and replacement of keys will be unnecessary whereas wooden keys will be come broken and require replacement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A stringed musical instrument compris ing an elongated hollow body of polygonal cross-sectional design, one of the side walls of said body having a sound opening formed theretlu'ough, end Walls in the body, a slotted plate extending along each edge of one end wall, strings extending longitudinally over each of said side walls and each having one end attached to an adjacent slotted plate, a bridge extending transversely of each side wall for the support of the strings passing thereover, and means for tensioning said strings from the other ends thereof.

2. A stringed musical instrument comprising an elongated hollow body of polygonal cross-sectional design, one of the side walls of said body having a sound opening formed therethrough, end walls in the body, a slotted plate extending along each edge of one end wall, strings extending longitudinally over each of said side walls and each having one end attached to an adjacent slotted plate, a bridge extending transversely of each side wall for the support of the strings passing thereover, means for tensioning said strings from the other ends thereof, and a handle secured to one of said end walls.

3. A stringed musical instrument comprising an elongated hollow body of polygonal cross-sectional design, one of the side walls of said body having a sound opening formed therethrough, end walls in the body, a slotted plate extending along each edge of one end wall, bridge pieces extending transversely of each side wall at each end of the same, strings (Wei-lying each of said side walls and each connected at one end with said slotted plate and extending across the bridges of the adjacent wall, and means in the other end wall having said strings connected thereto and by which the same may be tensioned to a desired key.

i. A stringed musical instrument, comprising an elongated body of polygonal cross-section having transverse head and base walls and side walls, said body having one of the side walls provided with an open ing, a plurality of strings extending longitudinally of the face of each side Wall and secured at one end thereto, bridges supporting said strings at each end of the instrument, and key members rotatably mounted in the base wall and each having the other end of a string secured thereto, said keys extending substantially longitudinally of the instrument.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

OZEMA WATSON. 

